Ekasana means “one meal in one sitting, before sunset.” Keep it simple, pure, and non‑violent.

What you may eat (in the single sitting)

• Fresh Jain vegetarian food cooked that same day.
• Simple items like: roti or rice, dal, one sabzi (avoid root vegetables), a little ghee, plain curd or milk, fruits, dry fruits.
• Only what you have taken a vow for (fixed number of items/ras). Do not add new items once you begin.

What you should avoid

• Eating more than once; no snacks, no tasting while cooking.
• Food after sunset.
• Leftovers, refrigerated/previous-day food, or food from unknown/uncertain sources.
• Root vegetables (e.g., potato, onion, garlic, carrot, beet), honey, eggs, alcohol, and fermented items.
• Tea/coffee/soft drinks; outside the meal take only boiled, filtered water (daytime only).

How to observe

• Eat at one place without getting up; finish and then stop.
• Maintain carefulness (samiti) and awareness (apramatta): minimal spices, no waste, and gentle speech.
• Water should be boiled and filtered; many observe fixed-time water (naal) during daylight only.

Notes by tradition

• Shvetambar: Often limit the meal by “ras” (number of preparations). For example, decide in pratikraman/pachchakkhan: “I will take X ras” and stay within that in one sitting.
• Digambar: Emphasis on one full meal in daylight with only boiled water in the day; simplicity and restraint (alpa-upayoga). Many avoid milk/curd if they have taken that specific vow.

Essence Ekasana is not about the menu’s variety; it is about restraint, purity, and non‑violence—one pure, simple meal, once, mindfully, before sunset.